Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502090019
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
John Hairston started off Friday evening with as much fury as a winter storm. The Christiansburg senior scored seven points before Carroll County had any.
That opening spurt sparked the Blue Demons to an 84-46 New River District boys' high school basketball victory.
With the win, Christiansburg (13-2 overall, 3-0 district) clinched a tie for its first-ever district title. The Demons have been in the NRD since it formed in 1961.
To position itself to claim the district, Christiansburg had to dispose of the Cavaliers (4-13, 0-3). And the No. 5 team in the state in Group AA made short work of them, thanks to Hairston's early heroics.
Hairston scored seven of the Demons' first nine points. In the opening 3 minutes, 20 seconds, he hit a jumper from the left wing , a short shot inside, and a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
``Hairston was hot early and that got us off to a good start,'' said Christiansburg coach Gerald Thompson. ``The rest of the team was getting him the ball so he could make the plays and that helped.''
Trailing 9-0, the Cavaliers called timeout. It was to no avail though as it slowed down neither Hairston nor his teammates.
Christiansburg scored five more points before Carroll County finally made a shot - after missing its first 11.
In the second quarter, Hairston added another seven points. His offensive output equaled the Cavaliers' at intermission - 14 points. But seven other Demons had combined for 20 points, giving Christiansburg a 34-14 lead.
``I took what they [Carroll County] gave me,'' said Hairston, who finished with a game-high 22 points. ``And what they didn't give me, I took that too. But I couldn't have done it without the team getting me the passes.''
Hairston scored eight more points in the first 31/2 minutes of the second half. That keyed a 15-5 run that extended the Demons' lead to 30 points.
Then, the reserves took over. They too were like a winter storm, for you never knew from which direction they were coming.
The only other player in double figures for Christiansburg was Ricky Williams. The back-up point guard had 10 fourth-quarter points. His 3-pointer with 1:46 to go gave the Demons an 80-39 lead, the last of the two occasions when they opened a 41-point bulge.
``The High Five usually goes in for the starting five and they go out there and lift us up a little bit,'' said Williams. ``I'm on the third string. I just look to make the most of my playing time. I felt like I went out there and helped generate some enthusiasm.''
Matt Larrowe led Carroll County with 19 points. But his scoring alone could not overcome the offensive woes of the Cavaliers, who shot less than 27 percent..
``Christiansburg played very well, they shot very well [60 percent],'' said Carroll County coach Pat Sharp. ``Defensively, they took us out of what we wanted to do. And I think we were intimidated inside. We missed a bunch of easy shots.''
by CNB